eHow Contributing Writer
Anyone who is moderately serious about scuba diving as a hobby or pastime should invest in a dive computer. Having your own dive computer can help you stay safe while diving as well as give you peace of mind that you are in control of your dive. Dive computers come in a variety of styles at many prices. Novice divers can get an inexpensive wrist computer while serious scuba divers will opt for a costlier and more complex console that you attach to your regulator. Regardless of which one you buy, all dive computers provide the same basic information. Higher-end models have additional features that you may or may not want.
- Activate your dive computer. Most are water activated but they can be turned on manually when needed. Use the instructions for your model to find out how to turn on your computer.
- Check the depth. The most prominent number on the computer screen is the depth. You can set this to feet or meters when you initially set up the computer. As you descend and ascend, you can watch this number rise and fall accordingly. Most dive computers have an alarm that will sound if you move below the recommended depth for recreational diving (135 feet). You will also hear an alarm if you ascend or descend too quickly.
- Watch your time. The second-most prominent figure you will see is your dive time. This will start when you begin your descent and continue until you are out of the water. The dive computer uses the time and the depth to calculate your safety during your dive. The deeper you go, the less time you can spend in the water. Once you leave the water, a new time will start, giving you the time between dives.
- View other information. Additional information that will most likely appear on your dive computer's main screen include whether you are using air or nitrox (depending on your computer model and its settings), the air and water temperatures and perhaps the time of day.
- Record your dives for your records. Most dive computers will track your dive history for a certain number of dives. This way you can transfer the information into your dive log, or if you have the right model, you can download the information to your home computer. By selecting the menu on your dive computer, you can access this history and scroll through your most recent dive as well as past dives. Each computer is different, so refer to the manual on how to access this information for your specific model.
